Peter Arthur Gotti(October 15, 1939 – February 25, 2021) was an Americanmobsterwho served asbossof theGambino crime familyofNew Yorkfollowing the imprisonment of his younger brotherJohn Gotti.[1]
Peter Gotti | |
|---|---|
 Gotti's May 30, 1990FBImugshot | |
| Born | Peter Arthur Gotti October 15, 1939 New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 25, 2021(aged 81) Butner,North Carolina, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Crime boss |
| Predecessor | John Gotti |
| Successor | Domenico Cefalù |
| Spouse |
Catherine Gotti
(m.1960;div.2006) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
| Allegiance | Gambino crime family |
| Conviction(s) | Racketeering,extortion,money laundering(2003) Racketeering,extortion,murder conspiracy (2004) |
| Criminal penalty | Nine years and four months' imprisonment (2004) 25 years' imprisonment (2005) |
Early life
editGotti was born inthe Bronx,New York, on October 15, 1939. He was one of 13 children (two had died at birth) of John Joseph Gotti Sr. and Philomena "Fannie" DeCarlo. Gotti's brothers includedJohn J. Gotti,Gene Gotti,Richard V. Gotti,and Vincent Gotti, all of whom joined the Gambino crime family. The brothers grew up inEast New York, Brooklyn.[2]Gotti married Catherine in 1960 and fathered one child, Peter Gotti Jr. Gotti's nickname "One Eye" derives from blindness fromglaucomain one eye.[3]
Criminal career
editAround 1960, at age 21, Gotti started working as an associate for the Gambino family. In 1988, at age 49, the family inducted Gotti as amade man.[4]John J. Gotti designated Peter as caretaker of theBergin Hunt and Fish Club,and as a driver for John and Gene. By 1989, Peter was promoted tocapo.[5]John J. Gotti did not believe Peter had the ability to lead the crime family, which led to Peter's reputation as "the Dumbest Don".[1]
Like his father, Gotti had a legitimate job as a sanitation worker for theNew York City Department of Sanitation.Gotti eventually retired from the Sanitation Department with a disability pension after injuring his head against the back end of a garbage truck.[1]
Rise to leadership
editIn April 1992, his brother, John J. Gotti (Jr.), received a life sentence for racketeering and related offenses.[6][7]His brother asserted his prerogative to retain his title as boss until his death or retirement, with John's sonJohn A. Gottiand Peter relaying orders on his behalf.[8]Federal prosecutors say Peter became head of the Gambino organization after Gotti Jr. was sent to prison in 1999,[1][9]and is believed to have formally succeeded his brother John J. Gotti shortly before the latter's death in June 2002.[10]
Conviction and imprisonment
edit
In June 2002, a few days before his brother John's death, Gotti was indicted on federalracketeeringcharges. During Gotti's trial, federal prosecutors released information revealing that Gotti was having an affair with Marjorie Alexander, a longtime girlfriend. Alexander then publicly acknowledged the liaison and declared her love for Gotti. In response, Gotti berated Alexander for causing the publicity and broke off all contact with her.[1]Alexander later committed suicide in 2004.[11]During this time, Gotti's wife Catherine filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2006.[11]
On March 17, 2003, Gotti was convicted of extortion, money laundering, and racketeering activities centered on theBrooklynandStaten Islandwaterfronts, and for the attempted extortion of film actorSteven Seagal.[12]On April 15, 2004, JudgeFrederic Blockof theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New Yorksentenced Gotti to nine years and four months in prison for the charges.[13]During the trial, Gotti's lawyers stated that he was blind in one eye and suffered fromthyroidgoiter,sciatica,emphysema,rheumatoid arthritis,postconcussion syndrome,anddepression.[13]
On December 22, 2004, Gotti was convicted in a separate trial of racketeering charges related to extortion in the construction industry and conspiring to murder government informant and former Gambino underbossSammy Gravano.[14]On July 27, 2005, JudgeRichard C. Caseysentenced Gotti to 25 years in prison for the charges.[15]Gotti was imprisoned at theFederal Correctional Complex, Butner.[16]His projected release date was September 10, 2031.[17]
In July 2011,Domenico Cefalùreportedly replaced Gotti as Gambino boss.[18]
Death
editGotti's requests forcompassionate releaseunder theFirst Step Act,citing his failing health, were both denied: that of July 2019 in September, and that of December 2019[19][20]in January 2020.[21]
On February 25, 2021, Gotti died of natural causes at theFederal Correctional ComplexinButner, North Carolina,at the age of 81.[22]
References
edit- ^abcdeLombardi, John (May 21, 2005)."The Dumbest Don".New York.RetrievedJanuary 8,2012.
- ^Raab, Selwyn (February 16, 1988)."Gotti's Brother Called Rising Star in Gambino Mob".New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 24,2019.
- ^Marzulli, John (June 5, 2002)."NAB NEWEST GAMBINO CRIME BOSS".New York Daily News.RetrievedApril 12,2012.
- ^"Gotti's Family".Newsday.RetrievedJanuary 13,2012.
- ^Zambito, Thomas (December 17, 2004)."Dapper Don Diatribe May Doom Peter".New York Daily News.RetrievedJune 7,2013.
- ^Davis, p. 475
- ^Capeci, Mustain (1996), pp. 435–437
- ^Arnold H. Lubasch (September 16, 1992)."Gotti Is Still Crime Boss, U.S. Asserts".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 5,2011.
- ^"2005 criminal complaint U.S. vs. International Longshoremen's Association".Archived fromthe originalon August 27, 2008.
- ^Marzulli, John (June 5, 2002)."Nab Newest Gambino Crime Boss".New York Daily News.RetrievedMarch 11,2012.
- ^ab"PENSION PAIN FOR GOTTI EX".nypost.com. August 22, 2007.
- ^"Peter Gotti Is Convicted In Mob Trial".The New York Times.March 18, 2003.
- ^abNewman, Andy (April 16, 2004)."Gambino Crime Boss or Not, Peter Gotti Gets 9-Year Term".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
- ^McFadden, Robert D.; Lueck, Thomas J. (December 23, 2004)."Peter Gotti Is Found Guilty In Murder and Racket Case".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
- ^"A Good and a Bad Day for the Gotti Family".The New York Times.July 28, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2015.
- ^Exchange, Laurinburg (February 26, 2021)."Gambino crime family's elder Gotti, Peter, dies in NC prison".Laurinburg Exchange.RetrievedMarch 3,2021.
- ^"Inmate Locator".www.bop.gov.
- ^John Marzulli (July 29, 2011)."Wiseguy Sicilian Domenico Cefalu takes reins of Gambino crime family, once ruled by Gottis".New York Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on July 26, 2012.RetrievedMarch 14,2019.
- ^"Feds oppose Peter Gotti's request for compassionate release".nypost.com. September 23, 2019.
- ^"Peter Gotti is about to meet his maker, his lawyer claims".nypost.com. December 11, 2019.
- ^"Gambino mob boss Peter Gotti loses bid for compassionate release from prison".nydailynews.com. January 15, 2020.
- ^"Gambino crime family's elder Gotti, Peter, dies in prison".NBC.February 26, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 27,2021.
Further reading
edit- Mob Star: The Story of John Gottiby Gene Mustain &Jerry Capeciin 2002,ISBN0-02-864416-6.
- Gotti: The Rise & FallbyJerry Capeciin 1996,ISBN0-451-40681-8.
- Mafia Dynasty: The Rise & Fall of the Gambino Crime Familyby John H. Davis in 1994,ISBN0-06-109184-7.